Author Archives: Rachel Hurley

Jared McStay of Shangri la fills us in on what is going on at his house of vinyl, Shangri la Records, for the week of May 23, 2011. This week features rare Kraut Rock from Germany and some very interesting rare blues.

Check out Alex Warble’s other art projects here.

This week presents a pretty interesting challenge. I usually try not to write about shows that are on the same night, but this time around, I’m not being given a choice. Two really-big-deal shows on the same night – what to do, what to do? I’ll leave it up to you.

Friday, May 20, 2011: Primus at Minglewood Hall

If you’ve never seen Primus live before, don’t bring your mother. Les Claypool does things to his bass that you wouldn’t even want to repeat to her, let alone let her see. Most people reading this column probably know who he is, sure, but for the benefit of those who don’t … just imagine if an acid alien came down from outer space, and then created the first ever bass guitar with his plasma replicator, and then made it his bitch. This is essentially what you will be going to see on Friday night if you end up at Minglewood. The last time I was at a huge, smelly three day music festival in Middle Tennessee that shall remain nameless, I was on my way to see one of my favorite performers but ended up missing the entire show because I got sidetracked by Primus in one of the tent shows. Their show is so freaking weird that I can’t even describe it all in one paragraph. Go get your chest rumbled.

Primus releases their new album Green Naugahyde in July. Download a free EP of one of their rehearsals from last summer here.

Friday, May 2, 2011: Foo Fighters with Motorhead at the FedEx Forum

I wonder if Dave Grohl ever imagined that Motorhead would open for his band. It’s crazy if you think about it – I remember reading how in awe he was of all the people he got to perform on his Probot project (which of course included Lemmy’s vocals on “Shake Your Blood”), so this tour must be nothing short of the thrill of a lifetime for him. And while Motorhead is probably at the tail end of their career, there’s still a fifth of Jack in Lemmy’s contract rider (look it up), and so I don’t think that you can expect anything dialed-in or lackluster. And what is there to be said about the Foo Fighters that hasn’t already been said? Six GRAMMYs. Almost 20 years. And when I think about it, I believe Dave Grohl is the only musician there’s ever been who actually became cooler after he turned 40 and was still playing the same music. Go get your face rocked off.

So either way, you really can’t go wrong this Friday night in Memphis. Sure, it’s nothing new, but there’s a reason bands like this have staying power. Go see why!

Okay, so maybe you were expecting this week’s SOTW to be Of Montreal at Minglewood tonight. That’s what you’d expect from any hip, vinyl-loving, indie-promoting blog, right? Plus, let’s face it, that show will probably be great. I’m sure there’ll be some live animals on stage, lots of crazy ass / ”really hip” makeup, and of course, some revealing cross-dressing. And there will probably be some sort of bondage trapeze situation, a number involving a live screen printing of that night’s show poster using Kevin Barnes’ blood as ink, and overhearing some girl say, “Oh wow, did you see the way he wore that bear suit??? It, like, so really captured the essence of the neo-post-premodernism that is blahblahsomecrapaboutnothing.”

However, this week’s show you need to go to is BIG. And I mean actually, literally BIG. Like arena, giant stage, enormous lights BIG, oh, and the best rock and roll show you’ll ever see: The Foo Fighters. And I’m not even gonna try to sell you on why you need to go. The stage and the lights have nothing to do with it. They don’t need any of that. They can play in your garage next to your tools and refrigerator and they’d still blow your freaking brains. As a matter of fact…..

Plus, Motorhead (yes, Motorhead) and Biffy Clyro are opening. Friday night at FedEx Forum. Ticket information is below.

Tickets / Foo Fighters / Motorhead / Biffy Clyro

We spoke with Terrence Bishop, bassist for River City Tanlines, The Subteens, The Kenny Brown Band, and formerly of Jack O. and The Tennessee Tearjerkers, at his Midtown home that he shares with his girlfriend, Anna Gregory. The house is lovingly restored due to Bishop’s craftsmanship and attention to detail, as well as Gregory’s good taste. It’s the same attention to detail and fearless investment of time to projects that has made Bishop a blue chip musician in Memphis. However, much of Bishop’s success has come organically. When one hears him play his bass, he plays it with such deftness, floating from note to note with a nimbleness that even the musically inclined could only mimic on a piano keyboard (using both hands) the line he is playing. His performance is effortless but not in the vein that Bishop looks bored, there is always energy in his playing, it is effortless like the way the rest of us breathe.

Bishop was born in Swainsboro, GA. His father drove trucks and his mother did factory and secretarial work. While Bishop’s father was a fan of the Texas Outlaws as well as listening to his music through earphones, his mother was a huge Motown fan and played it constantly on the stereo.

“My mom said that the only way she could get things done around the house was to put me in my crib with Motown Music on, I’d bob and rock to the beat and soothe myself,” Bishop recalls.

After living in a series of cities, Bishop and his family ended up in Kissimmee, FL. His father was intent on him becoming a professional golfer and so Bishop spent time practicing golf as well as riding bikes and skateboarding. After breaking his arm as a teenager, he experienced downtime in all areas and tagged along with a friend to a guitar lesson. It was an informal teacher as Bishop recalled: “The guy would have the kid buy a jug of wine for him and he’d sit there and drink and teach the kid to play.”

While watching the lesson, Bishop picked up a bass and began to, even with the cast on his arm, peck the notes as the teacher was teaching. “After a few minutes of it, the guy looked up and asked if I played bass, and I told him ‘no’ and then he said, ‘well, you do now.’” In little time, Bishop was playing with the first of many bands, Lyre.

In 1990, Bishop moved to Memphis and fate would have it that on his first night here he would meet drummer John “Bubba” Bonds (the friendship and partnership of which lead to the existence of a rock-solid rhythm section of many bands) at the New Daisy. Bonds and Bishop soon went on tour together with Son of Slam; however, back then they were touring on a two dollar a day per diem. “We each got a Burger King burger, no cheese, and split a pack of Marlboro Reds,” Bishop said of Bonds and himself.

Bishop again relied on his well-honed talent of becoming fast friends with people to avoid sleeping in a booth at a club with a jacket as a pillow. He quickly found people at each venue along the road and would offer to make them dinner in exchange for letting them sleep at their house. More often than not, it worked. When John “Bubba” Bonds was asked by a fellow band member why he stuck so close to Terrence, he smiled and replied, “Because he’s money.” Hence the nickname that stuck: T-Money.

Presently, Bishop is riding high on the success of River City Tanlines, who made a splash at SXSW this year, even garnering the attention of an NPR feature. The band also recently won the “Best Local Video” award at the 2011 Music Video Showcase for their song, “Looking for a Line” directed by local cult film hero Mike McCarthy.

So, what’s next? Well, Bishop would like to work on music placement as well as production thus making music a full time job.

When asked about the Memphis music scene, Bishop replied, “I live in Memphis, TN, you are going to hear things, better music than anywhere you go…I live in the greatest city for music in the world, not just talking about the United States, this is the best place for music in the world. You can go out, any night of the week, and hear better music than other cities have on a Friday.”

And Memphis is lucky to have him.

Terrence Bishop @ Hi-Tone Cafe, May 2011

Shangri-la Records has been voted one of America’s 10 Greatest Indie Record Stores.

Bryan Hartley, formerly of midtown favorite Half-Acre Gunroom, has a new band called Bryan Hartley Industries who will be premiering some new songs and giving away demos at Otherlands tonight! He stopped by Ardent Studios this afternoon to give us a preview of the show!

http://soundcloud.com/tvd-memphis/the-warm-up-with-bryan-hartley

May rolls on! In a month during which the happenings in this town are non-stop, music is no exception. And if you haven’t gotten your fill yet (as if that’s possible), here’s what’s going down this weekend.

Friday, May 13, 2011: A Giant Dog with DJ Lady Problems at the Hi Tone Cafe

I love music like this. It’s dirty and bouncy and high energy and just plain fun. Plus, the singer is a chick (a hot chick, at that) and that just adds to the allure. Add in the musical stylings of DJ Ladyproblems (of ilovememphisblog.com) and you’ve got the formula for a night of great fun. Oh, and did I mention that it’s a beer bust? And that the Hi Tone has Magic Hat #9?

Saturday, May 14, 2011: Todd Snider with Jimbo Mathus and Alvin Youngblood Hart at The Levitt Shell

A big part of me wishes I were alive in the heyday, so to speak, of the Levitt Shell. Read up on the history of it sometime, it’s fascinating – Elvis Presley’s 1954 performance there with Slim Whitman is considered by many to be the first ever rock and roll show. How cool is that?

Fast forward 50+ years and the Shell has been back in action for a while. They always have great programming there during the spring, summer and fall, and this year is no exception. Saturday is a special event, with Ardent client Todd Snider (who was back in the studio last year producing local favorite Jason D Williams’ new record), Jimbo Mathus (an Oxford mainstay, L. Nix mastering client, and former Squirrel Nut Zipper), and Memphis powerhouse Alvin Youngblood Hart. Three awesome artists, one awesome venue, and at $15, it won’t break the bank either. Should be a great night!

Sunday, May 15, 2011: Jonathan Richman at the Hi Tone Cafe

A few facts about Jonathan Richman, in case you don’t know who he is. 1) He is essentially one of the forerunners of punk rock, having been the founding member of The Modern Lovers; 2) He produced Vic Chesnutt’s final album, Skitter on Take-off; 3) He’s been covered by The Sex Pistols; 4) He was in There’s Something About Mary. Not sure how much more you need.

Take a look at Mike Hsu’s Vinyl Dump Ep 56: Big Star!

Although this is a fantastic overview of the album, we would be remiss if we did not correct a few misreported items in the video. First, Jody and Alex were dating sisters, but they were not twins. Also, test pressings were not sent to radio stations- they were exactly what the name suggests – they were the test pressing that a record company would listen to before they would authorize a full run of pressings. Therefore, there were usually only about 5 made of each record and that’s how many originals were a part of the 2000 albums pressed for this run, not 200. There are still 2 out there somewhere!

This weekend’s show is gonna be really, really cool. Bryan Hartley (of the now defunct local alt country rock band Halfacre Gunroom) will be performing with his new group Bryan Hartley Industries over at Otherlands Saturday night. This project seems to be a peppier, more light-hearted country venture, more along the lines of other local countryman John Paul Keith. Check out “Flyways” from their EP Underemployed on their Facebook.

Jessica Jones, another local songwriter and member of Hartley’s band, will open the night playing songs from her new project Young Greys. It should really be a cool night of great alt country goodness at the hippest coffee shop in town.

This all ages show is at 8 and there’s a $5 cover.

Bryan Hartley Industries Facebook / Young Greys Bandcamp

Carolina Story, a Nashville band that was birthed in Memphis with some pretty strong ties to Ardent, is playing The Abbey tonight at 7PM! Since we know a lot of Memphis music fans tend to go out a little later than that, we’re thrilled that they took the time to stop by and play us a few songs! Check them out~!

The Warm Up with Carolina Story
http://soundcloud.com/tvd-memphis/the-warm-up-with-carolina

I’m sure you’re all exhausted after last weekend’s Beale Street Music Festival. I’ve been exhausted all week just hearing about it, and I didn’t even go. But you mustn’t let this stop you from venturing out this weekend. There are two shows that I’m advising all y’all to go and see, and neither will leave you disappointed.

And while it’s no secret that I have a special love for the Hi Tone, I guess I need to say that I didn’t pick all Hi Tone shows on purpose. Just an awesome weekend!

Saturday, May 7th, 2011: Bass Drum of Death at the Hi Tone Cafe

The first time I heard BDoD, I was sitting at my desk at work. I started bobbing my head a little. 30 seconds into the song, I was dancing in my chair and had it turned up a little too loud.

Fast forward about 2 minutes, and the song is almost done. At this point I have kicked out my chair from behind me, and I’m screaming, and there were 6 bikini clad punk rock chicks punching each other in the face while drinking tequila. It escalated really quickly.

This is rock and roll in the most primal way, and it will make you move your body. And it’s a 2 piece. And they’re on Fat Possum. What’s not to like?

Bass Drum Of Death – Get Found

Sunday, May 8th, 2011: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

I remember exactly how long it took me to like Blues Explosion, and I remember exactly which moment in which song did it. I’m posting the video of said song below – Make sure that you turn your volume WAY up before you hit play. Tell me that that scream isn’t the essence of rock and roll, that it doesn’t excite something in you, and then you can sit at home on Sunday night watching re-runs of Cheers on Netflix (hint: this is what I usually do on Sunday nights) instead of experiencing what might be the most badass version of “blues” music you’ve ever heard.

Admittedly, I’ve never seen them live before, but I’ve been a fan for a LONG time. Jon Spencer (and R.L. Burnside) are the reason that I will refer to a pint of whiskey as “a ass pocket” in perpetuity. I’m so pumped about this show that Sam and Diane and Cliff and Norm are just going to have to wait.

All this rock in just two shows might be more than you can handle. But if you’re up to the task, go forward! Have a whiskey! Bring earplugs!

Hometown favorite Star & Micey, who has made big changes to their sound and line-up over the past couple of years, recently visited Paste’s offices in Atlanta to perform. Check out these videos from that performance.

The city’s best new hip-hop act Cities Aviv (aka Gavin Mays) will turn the Hi-Tone upside down Friday night for the release of his new record Digital Lows out now on the local Fat Sandwich Records. Digital Lows is up for free download online (link below) and has got a lot of us excited about the new hip-hop scene here in town. Lots of samples and clever lines make the record reminiscent of early hip-hop, and carries with it some welcomed nostalgia.

Redeye Jedi will be backing up Mays on Friday, and free physical copies of the record will be available. For real, these jams are really freakin cool, so check Cities Aviv out this Friday the 6th, along with Cannonmen (Nashville), Royal’T and DJ Leroy.

Cover is $5, 18+ at 9pm.

Digital Lows Download / Cannonmen / Royal’T